Lord Sainsbury of Turville: We expect to lay the Statutory Instrument on Artists' Resale Right before Parliament during December.

Lord Bach: Five categories of sugar-containing products were considered in a September 2004 Defra-commissioned study by Leatherhead Food International: confectionary, soft drinks, other confectionary, cakes and biscuits, and preserves. According to industry estimates, refined sugar accounts for 10-20 per cent. of costs for a firm using sugar to produce a wholesale product. Defra's regulatory impact assessment on sugar reform estimates that for a 36 per cent. price cut in sugar, average retail prices of the various sugar containing products would be expected to fall by between 1 per cent. (cakes etc.) and 9 per cent. (preserves), depending upon the importance of sugar in the product.
	More precise forecasts for the specific products listed in the question have not been made, but they would be expected to fall within this range.

Lord Triesman: The Government have not raised the suspension of the EU/Israel Association Agreement in discussions with the governments of Poland and Germany. The Government believe that, as a friend of Israel and the Palestinians, close engagement provides us with the greatest chance of encouraging both sides to take the necessary steps to achieve a just and lasting peace. We do not believe that suspension of the EU/Israel Association Agreement would bring the parties any nearer to a peaceful resolution.

Lord Triesman: The EU maintains a regular dialogue with Israel on its human rights obligations within the framework of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We last raised human rights with Israel at the EU-Israel Political Dialogue and Cooperation subcommittee, which met for the first time on 21 November 2005, to assess the implementation of the political clauses in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan: At the meeting, the EU and Israel proposed the creation of a new working group on human rights.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to use the remaining period of the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union to discuss with the Israeli authorities the need for past and future compensation for any damage to European Community assets caused by Israeli military action in the Occupied Territories.

Lord Rooker: Allegations of bullying and harassment have been made against the chief executive of Waterways Ireland. The results of an investigation into these allegations are detailed in the joint Statement issued on 4 April 2005 by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA). The joint Statement is available in the Library.
	In 2001 allegations of harassment were made against the then chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency. The chief executive retired prior to completion of the investigation.

Lord Rooker: Causes of death are classified by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death (ICD). The current version of ICD does not have a specific code for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, statistics on deaths where MRSA was a contributing factor can be obtained by identifying deaths with specific conditions likely to be linked with MRSA, and manually checking the cause of death on the death certificate to identify whether MRSA was mentioned.
	The table below gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland where MRSA was mentioned on the death certificate and recorded as (a) the primary cause of death; (b) the secondary cause of death and (c) the primary or secondary cause of death between the years 2000 to 2004.
	
		
			 Registration Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 (P) Total (2000–04) 
			 MRSA recorded as primary cause of death 1 7 10 4 8 30 
			 MRSA recorded as secondary cause of death 13 10 16 26 36 101 
			 MRSA recorded as primary or secondary cause of death 14 17 26 30 44 131 
		
	
	P Data for 2004 are provisional

Lord Triesman: As presidency of the EU, we have raised our concern over the charges brought against Mr Pamuk with the Turkish Government on a number of occasions. Most recently, the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland of Asthal, the Minister of State for the criminal justice system and offender management at the Home Office, raised this with the Turkish Justice Minister when visiting Ankara on 11 November. Our Ambassador in Ankara raised freedom of expression and the charges against Orhan Pamuk with the Turkish Foreign Minister on 9 November and immediately issued his comments on behalf of the presidency; this was well covered the following day in the Turkish press. We will continue to urge the Turkish Government to safeguard freedom of expression and to raise this case.
	I also refer the noble Lord to the comments by my right honourable friend the Prime Minster and my honourable friend, the Minister for Europe (Douglas Alexander) and to the Adjournment Debate of 15 November on this matter in the other place on 1 November (Official Report, cols. 714–715), 15 November (Official Report, cols. 942–950) and on 23 November (Official Report, col. 1507).

Lord Triesman: Our Ambassador in Ankara raised freedom of expression and the conviction of Hrant Dink with the Turkish Foreign Minister on 9 November and his comments were well covered the following day in the Turkish press. We will continue to raise this case and to urge the Turkish Government to safeguard freedom of expression.
	I also refer the noble Lord to the comments by my right honourable friend the Prime Minster on freedom of expression and Turkey on 23 November (Official Report, col. 1507), and to the references made to the conviction of Hrant Dink at the Adjournment Debate of 15 November in the other place on 15 November (Official Report, cols. 942–950).